Growth Performance and Resource Use Efficiency in Cauliflower Production: A Micro Level Study

Renu Kumari, R.R. Mishra, D.K. Sinha, Nasim Ahmad*

Department of Agricultural Economics, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: nasim.rau@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.8.1.06

Abstract:

The study gives insights on production performance of one of Bihar’s most important vegetable, the cauliflower. Compound annual growth in area, production and productivity of cauliflower were analyzed to investigate the expansion or shrinkage of the cauliflower in Samastipur district of Bihar as well as for the entire state. In this investigation, resource use efficiency of the respondent farmers were also calculated to know whether the farmers are operating technically, allocatively or cost effectively or not in production of cauliflower in the study area. Significant positive growth in area, production and productivity of cauliflower in Bihar was observed during the period of investigation. The growth in area, production and productivity of cauliflower exhibited almost similar trend in case of Samastipur district. The analysis of resource use efficiency of cauliflower production revealed that the mean level of technical, allocative and cost efficiencies of all the sample respondents were estimated at 0.67, 0.61 and 0.41 which implied that the cauliflower growers could decrease the current input by 33.00%, reduce the cost of production of cauliflower by 39.00% for which they would have to be more aware of relative input prices prevailing in the market, while deciding upon quantum of various inputs, and reduce the current cost of the produce by 59.00% to achieve a potential minimum cost of production relative to the efficient farmers given current level of output. In this way the efficiency scores suggest that there is a considerable scope for decreasing inputs and thereby reducing the cost of production in cauliflower cultivation in the study area. The study pointed out that the farmers in the study area were not properly aware about the package of practices of cultivation of cauliflower and under or over utilizing the resources of productivity causing gap in output of the crop. Proper farmer's field trials and awareness campaigns on improved practices and correct method of use of inputs need to be imparted which will ultimately benefit the producers.

Keywords:

Cauliflower; Resource Use Efficiency (optimal use of inputs like seed, fertilizers, irrigation etc go get maximum level of output); Technical Efficiency (ratio of sum of the weighted outputs to sum of weighted inputs); Allocative Efficiency (optimal or appropriate allocation of inputs or combination of inputs); Cost Efficiency (allocation of input or combination of inputs considering its cost so that on minimum cost maximum out may be harvested)

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